At last the poacher albeit ellusive has been foiled by a dog walker of all people.

The gentle man who at this stage doesn't wish his name to be anounced is to be commended on removing the net from the river and putting a stop to the poacher who has been seen several times in the last few months and is well known in the local area due to his bragging.

Well hopefully we won't see too much of this type of illegal fishing for a while, however the clubs bailiffs are in the area very very regularily with the view to catching the poacher red handed if he starts again which no doubt he will.

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For me the futures bright and its wild as nothing else comes close.

What baffles me it what would anyone do with any amount of poached salmon?
The price of the fake stuff in the supermarkets is so low where is the financial gain???

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It is in truth not glory,nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting,but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with his life.(Declaration of Arbroath, 1320)

River Runner What I want to know is why are so many Wild Salmon being killed. I heard a report (unconfirmed) of up to 50 fish taken below the M8 bridge & I recently seen a photo of three lovely fish killed one day on the Bridge of Weir stretch & the angler getting another two the next day.Now while it was perfectly legal & within the anglers right to do so all I say is stop & think.
Do I really need to do this?. Would a photo not suffice?
As maharg said Tesco Salmon is as cheap as chips at moment so why kill the Wild Salmon. If you are that desperate for a fish visit the local supermarket.
The Gryffe like the Kelvin is river in transition & the more we do do help the better & if it means putting them back then lets do so. Hard I know for some anglers to change their ways but Atlantic Salmon are not a resource we can squander on a whim.
Bye the way glad to see River Runner is "still alive" last year we had good info on the Gryffe, this year until now zilch. I for my sins have been out a bit Spring & Summer for the smaller fish & not noticed any wrong doing. One thing I might-note to his good self is the amount of worming that is going on around the gorge area on a Sunday.
I'll bet they are not after Trout & I am sure if you checked the tackle you will find it to be quite stout. Last Sunday afternoon there was a man & women fishing down at the bend & two youths at the big pool below the Gorge all with spinning rods & bait. Just thought I would mention it might be worth a look see.
Tight Lines

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"The Future's Bright The Future's Wet Fly"

A Salmon is a Salmon is a Salmon, Wild or fake makes no difference to the resale, all have a value. If these toe rags can get a few bob for their next fix or a few bottles of Buckie then they will do so. Some do it "just for the chase" thankfully on the decrease but it still goes on. I am more concerned about the West of Scotland's angling attitude towards fish in general. We still have this "kill" attitude & doubly so when migratory fish are concerned. I drove along Loch Earn last week & Venechar this Sunday & the amount of "set line" fishing I saw was most regrettable Loch Earn being by far the worse. Education is the only way & it is at primary school level it should be targeted at.Only if the children can be educated early enough about our fragile earth & water will there be any hope for the future.
Tight Lines

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"The Future's Bright The Future's Wet Fly"

It absolutly infuriates me the thought of all them salmon being killed in the gryffe but doesnt suprise me the abercorn is full of clowns that just want to kill everything they catch be it trout,grayling or salmon it always seems to have been like that.Most of these fish are probably deep hooked using bait.

I dont know how many times i have asked fellow anglers if they have had any joy only to be shown a 10" trout or similar if i was a voilent man i think i would be doing time because of it and i realise that these people are well within their rights to take trout but come on if things are that bad that youve got to knock a small wild trout on the head then its a sad world we live in.

Worth meantioning also ive fished the gryffe alot this year and havent once been asked for my permit is it any wonder people are getting away with murder.I realise the guys that do their part time keeper thing are doing their best but it obviously isnt enough and what power do they really have most people that are poaching would just tell them where to go.

I was going to mention that some kind of catch limit for the season should be put in place along side a tactics restriction but it would be pointless as it could never be policed properly,How much would it cost to employ some kind of full time keeper that could properly keep an eye on things?

Regards

tgh.

Shouldn't the dog walker have informed the bailiffs so they could mount a vigil to catch the poacher/s? It infuriates me when anglers take on poachers by telling them off when my phone number is on their day ticket and I can deal with it properly.

I fish the gryffe every week, as i stay around the co-op in houston, to be fair almost everytime i am down the river this year i have bn asked for a permit... i think it depends wot part u fish, as the bailif seems to do most of his work where there are nearby roads, aint to keen on walking up and down the river on foot!! however i think they do a fair job, does any one no where the net was found aye found a old net in the bushes at the gorge pool last saturday.... iv had too salmon this year think its fishing superbly!!!!! not bad for 40 sqwid!!!

Some of the guys I've spoke to say its the best year the rivers ever had in relation to the salmon. I saw a massive fish come clean out the water on Friday afternoon, must have been between 15 and 20 Lb.

I don't mind people taking the odd fish for the pan but these people that take every fish want shot. These are always the people that complain about how bad the fishing is. Do they not realise that if they put them back then the fishing can only get better in years to come. (I vote for fly only, solves allot of problems) <<< that was a joke

As with the Kelvin the Gryffe seems to be having its problems. The only way to correct these issuses is with the help of the Police and warranted Crown baillifs, anything less is a waste of time!!!!!!!!

I notice grayling hunter has mentioned about the club being full of clowns!!
When I was involved with the Clyde Trust, meeting after meeting was taken up by petty squabbles between the clubs. Abercorn, Bridge of Wier, being some of the worst offenders! They could not agree on the colour of *****!!!!
This was one of the main reasons I stopped going to the meetings.
On the whole most of the guys had the fishings best interests at heart, but this constant bickering drove me to despair, and I wonder how many others?
The clubs must get behind each other and help out. Personal issues must be put to one side. If there are individuals in your club who you believe are involved in this bickering you should have them removed, for the benifet of not only your club, but the whole of the Clyde catchment.

rant over!!!!

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It is in truth not glory,nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting,but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with his life.(Declaration of Arbroath, 1320)

fly only would b a gd idea during the start of the season, with spinning later on allowed. I have fished the worm in the gryffe a few time when i was younger, i fell its a bit annoying u tend to lose all ur tackle because its so small and rocky, i think u catch more fish on the fly anyway.....

i fish the annan, and they have a policy that all brownies must be returned, the brown trout fishing down there is superb with fish of 4/5 caught every year i seen a few of then never managed to temp one tho, maby if the gryffe had this policy they to would have trout fishing of this standard......